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A catastrophe theoretic model of heat regulation in homeothermic animals

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Abstract

The temperature regulation in homothermic animals is an example of a negative feedback system. It shows sudden changes of parameter values, and therefore suggests the use of catastrophe theory for its description. This paper reports on work done on the human temperature regulation mechanism to shows that the five-dimensional dual butterfly catastrophe model is sufficient for its description. Nearly all experiments reported in the literature overlook the dynamic multiparametric nature of the process. Use of catastrophe theory, on the other hand, shows that one cannot find a model with fewer than five parameters for such a system. From work by Benzinger and Kitzinger, the exact shape of part of the corresponding bifurcation set is determined.

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  1. Department of Mathematics and Department of General Biology, Rijksuniversitair Centrum, Groenenborgerlaan 171, 2020, Antwerp, Belgium

    Willem Kuyk

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  1. Willem Kuyk
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Kuyk, W. A catastrophe theoretic model of heat regulation in homeothermic animals. Bltn Mathcal Biology 46, 81–102 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02463723

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02463723

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